Electric door opening device



June 4, 1935. M. V. GREEN I 2,003,533

ELECTRIC noon OPENING msvxcn FiLed March 7, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTQRNEY.

June 4, 1935. M. V..GREEN ELECTRIC nook OPENING DEVICE Filed March 7, 19:52

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

M BY 2 ATTORNEY.

June '4, 1935. M. v. GREEN ELECTRIC DOOR OPENING DEVICE Filed March 7, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR A TTORNE Y.

June 4,.1935, v. GREEN 3 2,003,533

ELECTRIC DOOR OPENING DEVICE Filed March 7, 1932 5 Shee ts-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY.

June 4, 1935. M. v. GREN I I 2,003,533

ELECTRIC DOOR OPENING DEVICE Filed March 7, 1952 s SheetsJ-Sheet 5 lip. M 4a f /3 1 qq a 8 34 a g gn I If I" a J Fl E i N 20-26 Dc 3m 5/ a M 72 3; 34 K as E 'LJ I Q I i-I 1a 41 Q 0 H 0 1 I HI k v I I! .j 711 INVENTOR.

W ATTORNEY.

Patented June' 4, 193s y I 2,003,533

UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE Mason V. Green, Lansing," Mich assignor to Frank D. Hayes, Lansing, Mich., as trustee for F, D. Hayes Electric Company Application March-7, 1932, Serial No. 591,100

4 Claims. (01. 268-65) The object of my invention is to provide a 'door the Fig. 2, the electric light bulb of the source opening device that will operate automatically for light unit with the reflector and lens mounted Opening and closing a door, either of the swingtherewith. Y

' ing or the sliding type, and without the aid of i Fig. 10 illustrates the electric wiring-of the cell 5 any manual means. unit with a sensitive cell relay instrument with 5 Another object is to produce an automatic door which the photo-electric cell is operated. opener operated by an electric solenoid mecha- Fig. 11 shows an alternate form of photo-elecnism controlled by photo-electric cell and relay tric cell of another type, that may be substituted instruments, so adjusted that the approach of any for the cell shown in Fig. 8 if desired.

10 person or object will automatically trip the sensi- Fig. 12 is a front view of the control contactor l0 tive relays and operate the mechanism for both box showing the general arrangement of the ciropening and closing the door. cuit contactors mounted there and their cir- A further object is to produce an automatic cuit connections. door opener that is silent and noiseless, suitable Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view taken through for use in hospitals and like places, and that will the" contactor box showing the relative position 15 also allow the door'to be opened manually when of the moving parts ofthe control contactors. the electric circuits are disconnected. Fig. 14 is a front view of the sensitive photo- 'These several objects are attained in the preelectric relay which operates with the cell, showferred form by the construction and arrangement ing the general arrangement of the electrical of parts more fully hereinafter set forth. 7 units mounted therein. 20

Similar parts on all drawings are marked by Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view through the similar numerals or letters. sensitive relay box taken on the line I 5l5 of Fig. 1 is a front view of the door with the op- Fig.'14 showing the relative position of the units erating mechan' m mounted thereon showing mounted therein.

the general arrangement of the installed units. Fig. 16 shows the wiring diagram for the entire 25 Fig. 2 is a top view of the assembled door and instrument set-up, showing the direct current ciroperating mechanism showing the relative horicuit for the solenoid coils separated from the zontal position of the photo-electric cells and electric circuit through the electrical instruments lighting units with respect to the door opening. which control and regulate it.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the door and inclosing Fig. 17 illustrates the application of the door 30 door casing showing the relative vertical positions opening mechanism applied to a sliding door of the cells and operating mechanism. panel instead of the swinging door previously fl- Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through thelustrated. solenoid taken on the line 4-4 of the Fig. 2, --In general, my device comprises a double soleshowing the interior arrangement of the operatnoid door operating mechanism suitable for 35 ing of the solenoid mechanism and connected mounting on thetop door casing head, and is retarding cylinders. provided with exterior operating parts mechan- Fig. 5 is a cross sectionalview of the solenoid ically connected to the doorpanel, near the taken on the line 55 of the Fig. 4 showing the hinged edge thereof, the double solenoids being operating plungers of the solenoid unit and the operative in both directions by separate electric 40 liquid escape passage in the retarding cylinders. currents applied thereto alternately, to the re- Fig. 6 is also a cross sectional view of the solespective solenoid coils, said circuits being regunoidsection taken onthe line 6-6 of Fig. 4, lated and controlled automatically by means of showing the gear connection between the two connected photo-electric cells and cell relay inunits. v struments used in combination with a fixed light 45 -,Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on source. The light source being reflected upon the the line 1-1 of the Figs i showing the liquid cells, and the sensitive relays connected thereto escape passages and the regulating valves mountbeing operative for controlling the instrument ed therein. electric circuit, when the light rays are broken. v

Fig. 8 a vertical sectional view through the The cells with their respective light source are 50 casing head taken on the line 8-8 of the Fig. 2, arranged in pairs, one pair located on each side showing one of the photo=electric cells mounted of the swinging door panel, so that the light rays therein. r maybe broken by a person passing or approach- Fig. 9 isajz'vertical sectional view through the ing the door from either side, thus operating the opposite casing-head taken on the line 9-9 of connctedsensitive cell relay and door opening 55 mechanism automatically. The device is preferably divided into two separated electric circuits, preferably a direct current circuit for the solenoid door operating coils, and preferably an alternating current circuit for the lighting and operating instrument units which control the flow of current through the solenoid circuit. However, the type of electric current is not essential to the mechanical operation of the device. In the drawings I have shown the control instruments and the sensitive cell relay units below the door frame to indicate they are preferably to be installed within the basement, although they may be installed in any place.

I will now describe more fully the detailedconstruction of my device, referring to the drawings and the marks thereon.

The door operating unit A comprises right and left solenoid coils l and 2 fixedly mounted in the opposite ends of a rigidmetal tubular housing 3, the coil ends being slightly separated at the center. The housing 3 is pivotally mounted on a rigid wall bracket 4 through a vertical pivot hearing 5 attached thereto near the center of the housing. The wall bracket 4 is provided with screw holes for fixedly mounting same-on door casing head as shown in Fig. 1, thus providing a permanent but adjustable mounting for the coil unit A. The coils I and 2 are each provided with a hollow tubular by-pass core 6, preferably made of thin brass tubing a having fiber end collars b fixedly mounted thereon, the cores being positioned lengthwise through the centers of the coils with their axis coinciding with the axis of the cylindrical housing 3, forming a continuous cylindrical passage throughout both the solenoid sections, the coils I and 2 being retained within the housing 3 by the end collar plates 1 and 8 fixedly attached to the housing ends and the center gear housing 9; Withirgthe double solenoid cores 6 is slidably mounted a cylindrical iron armature plunger [0, closely fitted to the core walls yet free to slide endwise therein, the plunger l being of a shorter length than the assembled coils and inclosing housing 3, is capable of reciprocating endwise therein under the magnetic attraction of the respective solenoid coils when the electric current is connected alternately therewith.

Fixedly attached to one end of the armature plunger I0 is an operating rod l l, positioned along the axis of the plunger, and is extended outside the casing 3 through a center bearing opening formed in the end collar 1. The operating rod ll is pivotally attached to an operating bar l2, near the center thereof, said bar 12 being mounted at one end thereof to the face of the wall bracket 4 by a fixed pivot bearing l3, the bar being capable of a horizontal swinging movement through a plane parallel to the solenoid coil axis as the plunger I0 is moved through the armature cores, the irregular movement of the swinging bar l2 causes the housing 3 to adjust slightly on its supporting pivot 5. The outer end of the operating bar I2 is connected tdthe extended end of a door bracket l4 by an adjustable connecting rod l pivotally attached at both ends. The door bracket I4 is fixedly attached to the door B near the hinged door edge, and the connecting rod l5 adjusted to allow the door to be opened and closed as the armature plunger I0 is moved from one extreme end of the solenoid coils to the other. The door B is mounted within the casing C by the hinges l6, and where the occasion demands, an electric lock release l1 may be mounted within beneath the solenoid housing the door edge and connected in the opening solenoid electric circuit.

To avoid sudden or irregular movements of the door when moved by the solenoid mechanism,

liquid retarding cylinders l8 are fixedly mounted 3 and rigidly attached to opposite sides of the center gear housing 9, the cylinders l8 being closed at their outer ends and are positioned in straight alignment with each other. Within the double retarding cylinders is a slidably mounted piston shaft l9, provided with a piston head thereof. The piston heads 20 are formed with valved ports 2| therethrough, designed to allow a free flow of liquid within the retarding cylinder chambers, from the center toward the piston outer ends, but close against any outer end piston pressure. The tubular retarding cylinders I8 are provided with side liquid escape channels 0 formed along the back cylinder casing walls, the channels opening into the respective cylinder chambers at each end thereof through various predetermined valve ports d and e, designed to regulate the speed of the liquid flow therethrough, and to retard the movement of the door operating mechanism as it reaches its extreme positions. The piston shaft I9 is formed with gearrack teeth 1 through the center portion thereof which meshes with a small pinion gear 22 fixedly mounted on a gear shaft 23. mounted within the connecting gear housing 9 and is extended to a position above and adjacent to the armature plunger I0 and carries fixedly mounted on the upper end a small pinion drive gear 24, which meshes with a gear rack 25 fixedly imbedded along the surface of the armature plunger, so that any longitudinal movement of the armature plunger It) will rotate the shaft 23 and likewise displace the plunger pistons 20 within the retarding cylinders accordingly. A suitable liquid, such as oil of a proper density is placed within the retarding cylinder chambers,

20 at each end,

.The shaft 23 is rotatably.

and its restrained flow therethrough by the valved ports and channels will regulate the speed of the connected solenoid plunger.

Within the top wall of the cylindrical solenoid housing 3 is mounted a small double electric limit switch 26, and which is a combination opening and closing switch installed within separate opening and closing electric circuits through the connected circuit wires 21, 28 and 29 which lead to different operating instruments. The projected switch lever g closes on one side in one of the circuits at the same time it opens the other, and is actuated by engaging the ends of a slotted recess h formed along the adjacent armature walls, the groove ends are positioned to engage the switch lever at the extreme ends of the plunger stroke for automatically stopping the plunger stroke, by breaking the electric current through the solenoid which is controlled by the connected contactor instruments D, E, and F.

The solenoid coils l and 2 are pairs of terminal wires 30, 3|, 32 and 33 which are connected into two separate directcurrent electric circuits, one circuit for each coil, and connected to the switch terminals of the operating opening and closing contactors E and F respectively, the contactors being operated and regulated by separate electric circuits through their magnetic coils under control of the connected photo-electric cell and relay mechanism G and H. A time delay' switch K is mounted within the instrument circuit between the opening and closing contactors E and F to cause a provided with '31 which is herein illustrated as positioned parallel with the jacent the'cell G slight delay in operation ofthe door opening 'mechanism before it closes the door. Each of the contactors D, E and F is formed with an electric magnet 34 and a movable contactor switch arm 35 pivotally mounted above themagnet, each switch arm 35 of contactors E and F carrying mounted thereon switch terminals 36 one in each of the solenoid direct current circuits. Also a like terminal 36a is mounted on the similarly positioned switch arm 35 for the circuit holding contactor D. The contactor switch arms 35 are held disconnected from their respective magnets when inoperative, by connectedspring members. The wiring diagram shown in Fig. 16 of the drawings shows the complete set-up and wiring of the various-instruments in the'two separated electric circuits. The solenoid coils are connected in a direct current circuit while'the operating instruments controlling this circuit are connected and operated by a completely separate electric circuit. Positioned on opposite sides of the door 13 are fixedly mounted sensitive photo-electric cells G, each being placed within a suitable casing head mounted on an ornamental newel post securely attached to the floor, although any fixed mounting of the casing heads may be-used as desired. The casing heads 31 are provided with side light tubes 38, each door panel B., The photo-electric cells G may be of any suitable standard types, several of w ch are now on the market, and are preferably connected in a parallel circuit which leads to a sensitive relay instrument H, where in some types of tubes a voltage is'connected therewith. Positioned directly opposite each of. the cells G, along the opposite door edge, is a light source bulb M, also mounted within a casing head 39 mounted on top of a fixed newel post and provided with side light tubes 38, each facing the light tube 38 of its respective cell. The light source bulbs M are also preferably connected in parallel in able electric lighting circuit by wires 53. type of electric bulb may be used that will produce a steady light ray. The light rays from each of the light source bulbs M are focused directly upon its respective cell G as is positioned opposite thereof, and must be accurately adjusted and balanced so that the same strength light falls on each ce as the diiference in light densities will cause the cells to function, and thereby trip the connected sensitive cell relay and startthe door operating mechanism. It is desirable to provide the light source bulbs M with suitable reflectors 40 and lens'4l, for more accurately focusing the rays directly on the cells. The photo-electric cells G are manufactured units now on the market, which transform light unit energy directly into electrical energy, and in some types without the use of applied voltage. If desired, an extra pair of cell and light source units G and M maybe positioned diagonally through the door opening as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and so focused that the light intensity is the same as in the other pairs of units, each preferably being connected in parallel with the corresponding units of the other pairs. The units G, M will operate to'prevent the door being' closed when any person or object is standing in a position to reak the rays of light. As the door is being 0 osed in the ordinary manner, a cooperative light source M" adis lighted by the closing of a mechanical switch 42 just prior to the cutting of the light rays by the door from the source in parallel, are connected any suitlighFM", thus preventing the cell from tripping the connected relay mechanism which would function to re-open the door.

The photo-electric cells G which are connected to the sensitive cellrelay unit H by the circuit wires 43. This cellrelayis a light sensitive device for controlling an electric current which operates through the unit, in response to any substantial increase or decrease in the amount of light which falls on the connected photo-electric cell. The essential elements of the cell-relay is an amplifying unit 44,

a sensitive relay unit 45, a sensitive relay contactor 46, and in cases where the amplifier requires a voltage, a small transformer 41 may be. supplied. These units are herein illustrated in a single casingv as a combined unit which is obtainable on the market in the assembled form. However, any other form or arrangement of the essential elements will do equally as well. The controlling element of this unit is the photo-electric cell G, and with the voltage of proper magnitude and polarity between the two units, the current it passes is proportional to the amount of light shining on the cell. The flow of current from the cells G when functioned by a change of light rays falling thereon, operates to connect the sensitive cell relay 45 which closes the circuit through thesensitive contactor 46. The contactor 46 is mounted within an electric circuit which flows through the magnet coils 34 of the controlling contactors D, E and F, and which are also mounted within the solenoid direct current circuit. The switch arm of the sensitive contactor 46, is separated into two sections it and m, completely insulated from each other, and this switch so connected within the circuits running to the difierent instrument as to function in two circuits as clearly indicated by the wiring diagram shown in Fig. 16 of the drawings. The circuit entering the relay contactor switch through the" common terminal wire 48, with the terminal wires 49 and 50 of the separated circuits connected to the separated insulated sections is and m of the contactor switch arm. The circuit wire :49 isconnected through the electro-magtactor closes-when the switch arm 35 of the contactor E is -release'd for opening said contactor switch, the circuit being continued through a time type to the electro-magnetic coil 34 of the closing contactor F. The time delay switch K is illustrated as a thermal switch making an electrical connection by heat expansion of an interior element, although the type used is not. material, the switch merely causing a slight delay in shifting the electric current circuit from the opening contactor E to the closing contactor F. The switch terminals 36 of. both contactors E and F delay switch K of any desired are connected into the direct current circuit leading to the solenoid coils l and 2 the door operating unit A The electric door release I1 is connected into the solenoid opening circuit and is operative at the first flow of current therethrough.

when the device is completely installed and respectively of described.

substitution of parts or sections.

ture plunger slidably m the door, said photo-electric cells being connectdoor.

adjusted, with the light rays from the source in combination with a connected movably bulbs M carefully reflected and adjusted upon mounted door panel, comprising right and left their corresponding photo-electric cells G, and. solenoid coils concentric about the same axis the cell relay instrument adjusted thereto, "the and fixedly mounted in opposite ends of a cyelectric circuits all stand open and the device lindrical casing, said casing being pivotally inoperative, but upon breaking of any line of rays mounted within .a rigid solenoid frame, each of of light from the source bulbs as may fall on any the solenoid coils being connected within suitcell G the sensitive cell-relay 45 closes under able separated electric circuits, a single straight action of the electric energy from the cell, and armature plunger slidably mounted through both likewise closes the circuit through the sensitive of said solenoids and capable of being reciprocontactor 46 which directs an operating electric cated therein, a plunger rod fixedly attached to circuit through the controlling contactors D, E the armature plunger and having its outer end and F as' heretofore described, thus closing the pivotally connected to an operating bar attached circuit in the opening solenoid coil l, and after a to the solenoid frame, means mounted on said short pause caused by the time delay switch K, operating bar for connecting same to a movably transfers the circuit to the closing solenoid coil mounted door panel in a manner for opening and 2, thus opening and closing the door 3 automati closing same as the armature plunger is actuated cally. At any time during the closing operation, by the solenoid coils, electric opening and closing if any of the light rays reflected on any of the operating contactors having magnetic operating cells G be broken, the opening mechanism will coils connected within the separate solenoid elecimmediately function to re-open the door, and tric circuits, a series of light sensitive photowithout completing the closing operation. electric cells, with co-operative light sources The various instruments may be wound to mounted at different positions on opposite sides operate under either direct current or for alterand through the passage way leading through nate current, as desired, although the direct curthe doorway, said cells being connected in parrent solenoid winding will operate more quietly allel with a sensitive cell-relay-contactor instruth th the i din s, ment connected within a separate electric cir- Fig. 17 shows the door mechanism applied to i l ading through the magn Operating il the liding type of door, t door being moved of the opening and closing electric contactors for back and forth by the vertically positioned operulating and operat the circuits through e ating bar 52 actuated by the connected operating solenoid coils as the light rays onthe respective rod II. The operation is the same as heretofore cells are broken, d a time ay i st u ent mounted within the circuit between the operatuustmted my device with the ing contactors for retarding the current as the While I have i preferred types of electrical instruments, it is circuits are alternated from one contactor to the parent that various modifications in both instru- Otherment units and arrangement of set-up may be An eiectnc devlce, adaptedfor 9* made without departing from the spirit of my inmoYably mounfbled door f used In comm vention, and that various types of sensitive cells, natlon lamb/1th, comprlsmg fight and left relay instrument, electro-magnetic contactors or Solenold c0115 confientnc about the Same 31x15 a time delay switches, may be used if desired to rigifily q q m PP F ends of a replace the units herein illustrated, and I claim a 9 mg, sald casing being pivotally mounted withmy invention the device as herein Shown and in a frame su1table for attaclung to a door casing any modification thereof that is substantially a head, each of Said Solenoid coils being connectedwithin separate electric circuits, a single, straight armature plunger slidably mounted through both d vice what I claim asm invention and of the coils and capable of being reciprocated mg 6 y thereby, a plunger rod fixedly attached to the s're to secure b Letters Patent is;

l I claim; y armature plunger and extended outside the coil 1 An electric device adapted for opening and casing and pivotally connected to an operating closing a connected door panel and used in combar Pivots-11y attached t0 the Solenoid frame,

bination therewith, comprising right and left means mounted on said bar for connecting same ric about the Same axis and to a movably mounted door panel 1n a manner for solenoid coils concent mounted within rigid frame by a pivoted hinge opening andclosmg same as the armature plunger is actuated by the inclosing solenoid coils when an connector, said coils bein connected within sepg electric current is passed alternately thereat let ic c'rcuits, a sin le strai ht armaar e e c 1 ounteg througtg1 the dot), through, an electric limlt switch mounted within the solenoid casing capable of opening the electric circuit through the respective coil circuits as the armature plunger reaches its extreme end positions, said switch bei'ng actuated by the armature plunger movements, a retarding element mounted on the solenoid casing and mechanically connected to the armature plunger in a manner to retard the plunger movements as it nears the respective casing ends, electric opening and closing operating contactors having magnetic oped in parallel to a sensitive cell-relay instrument Gratin? F mounted Within the P P 5919' with a sensitive circuit contactor installed within noid clrcults and used m combmtlon wlth Separate electric it leading through t common circuit holding contactor, a series of senmagnetic coils of the operating contactors for Sitive Photo-electric 0911s, With Corresponding 00- operating same :and the connected door opening Operative light Sources mounted in difiQlent P solenoid as a person or object approaches the s n on pp s sides n r u h th passageway leading through the door, said series of 2. An electric door operating device to be used cells being connected in parallel with a sensi- Having fully described my electric door openble solenoid coils, lever mechanism connected to the solenoid frame and also attached to the armature plunger and actuated thereby in a manner for operating a connected door panel, an operating contactor having magnetic operating coils mounted within each of the solenoid circuits, light sensitive photo-electric cells with cooperative light sources mounted at different positions across the passage way leading through ale,

' frame, adjustable tlve cell-relay-contactor instrument connected within a separate electric the magnetic operating coils of the electriccircuit holding and the opening and closing operating contactors, said circuit having a time delay switch mounted between said opening and closing contactors, the light cells and co-operative light sources being adjusted-to operate'the solenoid door opening mechanism when suflicient light rays are broken to materially change the light density on any cell.

4. An electric device adapted for operating a movably mounted door panel and used in combination therewith, comprising right and left solenoid coils concentric about the same axis and fixedly mounted in opposite ends of a cylindrical casing, the casing'being pivotally mounted within a rigid wall frame, each of said coils being connected within separated electric circuits, a sinstraight armature plunger slidably mounted through the double coil sections, capable of being reciprocated therethrough as the electric current I is alternated through the respective coil sections,

a plunger rod fixedly attached to the plunger end and projected outside the solenoid casing, said plunger rod being pivotally connected to an operating bar pivotally attached to the solenoid means mounted on said operating bar for connecting same to a movably mounted door panel, a double action limit switch fixedly mounted within the solenoid casing ca- I pable of being actuated by the armature plunger at the ends of the plunger strokes for opening the electric circuit through the respective coil electric circuits, liquid retarding chambers mounted circuit leading through V on the solenoid casing, valved plungers mounted within said retarding chambers, geared means mounted on said casing for mechanically connecting-the armature plunger with the valved plungers of the retarding chambers, said liquid chambers being provided with a suitable liquid and with liquid side passages formed through the casing walls, said side passages being provided with suitable valved ports, electrical circuit hold-.- ing and opening and closing controlling contactors having magnetic operating coils mounted within the separate solenoid electric circuits and controlled by the double action limit switch circuits mounted on the solenoid casing and actuated by the armature plunger, a series of light sensitive photo-electric cells, with co-operative light sources fixedly mounted in difierent positions on opposite sides and through the passageway leading through the door, said cells preferably being connected in parallel to avsensitive cell-relay-contactor instrument connected within a separate electric circuit leading through the magnetic operating coils of the circuit holding and operating opening and closing contactors,

one of said circuits having a time delay switch mounted therein between the opening and closing contactors, the respective cells with co-op erative light sources being so adjusted as to operate the connected cell-relay-contactor instrument and connected contactors also the solenoid door opening mechanism whenever any set of light rays leading to anyphoto-electric cell are sufliciently broken to materially change the light density on any, cell.

, MASON V. GREEN. 

